Clothing for Use With Personal Electronic Listening Devices

ABSTRACT

An article of clothing for supporting a personal electronic listening device comprised of: at least one pocket on the clothing, each pocket having at least one pocket aperture to allow an earpiece cord of the personal electronic listening device to pass from inside the pocket to outside of the clothing, and at least one clothing aperture on the clothing, each clothing aperture allowing the earpiece cord to pass from outside to inside the clothing and to on or near the wearer&#39;s head. The pocket can further include a cover flap to temporarily close the opening and the cover flap can further include a fastening member to temporarily secure the cover flap to the body of the pocket.

FIELD OF INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of clothing, and in particular to clothing that is functionally modified to accommodate personal electronic listening device and earpiece is primarily under the clothing.

BACKGROUND

The use of personal electronic listening devices has become popular during such activities as running, exercising, skiing, boating, bicycling, during sports events, etc. Typically, the user has a radio (such as a AM/FM radio), a tape player, or device for storing downloaded music (such as an MP3 player) attached by one or more straps to her body. The personal electronic listening device can be secured to the user's arm, waist, neck, head, or clothing, including being attached to a belt, placed in a pocket, or secured to the clothing by use of a clip of some sort. Earphones are then worn by the user and are connected to the personal electronic listening device by an electric cord.

Another option is to place the entire personal electronic listening device within the clothing. This solution, however, presents additional problems. The user cannot then manipulate the device to change a radio station, stop, forward, or advance a tape, select a song to play, or answer a call, as well as the possibility that the personal electronic listening device could become wet with perspiration.

While the technology for personal electronic listening devices has advanced (e.g., smaller size, increased storage capacity of music files, lighter weight, increased durability), the technology of the clothing for use with such devices has changed little.

The term “personal electronic listening devices,” as used herein, shall refer to any portable electronic device capable of emitting sound, including a radio (such as a AMIFM radio or FM stereo radio), a tape player (whether or not capable of recording music or sound and including all size cassettes), a combined radio and tape player, a device for storing downloaded music (such as an iPod® or an mp3® player), and a cellular phone.

The terms “expandable panel” as used herein, shall refer to a fold, configuration or characteristic in a fabric or material which allows for expansion by unfolding, stretching or re-configuration. For example, an expanded panel may include a strechable seam, accordian fold, a strechable tab, a spine or any other configuration which allows for expansion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view of one exemplary embodiment of clothing for use with a personal electronic listening device in which the pocket according to the instant invention is positioned on the chest of the clothing

FIG. 2 is a front view of the pocket and surrounding area of the clothing shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one alternate embodiment of the clothing in which the pocket according to the instant invention is positioned on the arm clothing.

FIG. 4 is a front view of one alternate embodiment of the clothing in which the pocket is positioned on a pair of shorts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the present invention, references are made in the text hereof to embodiments of clothing for use with a personal electronic listening device, only some of which are depicted in the figures. It should nevertheless be understood that no limitations on the scope of the invention are thereby intended. One of ordinary skill in the art will readily appreciate that modifications such as the dimensions, size, and shape of the components, alternate but functionally similar materials from which the strap apparatus is made, and the inclusion of additional elements are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the written description do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Some of these possible modifications are mentioned in the following description. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed apparatus or manner.

It should be understood that the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In addition, in the embodiments depicted herein, like reference numerals in the various drawings refer to identical or near identical structural elements.

Moreover, the term “substantially” or “approximately” as used herein may be applied to modify any quantitative representation that could permissibly vary without resulting in a change in the basic function to which it is related. For example, one embodiment of the clothing for use with a personal electronic listening device is disclosed herein as including two substantially circular holes. The holes might permissibly be somewhat non-circular and still be within the scope of the invention if its functionality is not materially altered.

Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front view of one exemplary embodiment of clothing 100 for use with personal electronic listening device 200 in which pocket 110 is positioned on one (1) side of the chest of clothing 100. In the embodiment shown, clothing 100 is a short-sleeved t-shirt. As will be discussed in greater detail with respect to FIG. 2, personal electronic listening device 200 is positioned within pocket 110, and earpiece 220 are positioned on top of the wearer's 50 head. In the embodiment shown, earpiece 220 is a pair of personal headphones. Personal electronic listening device 200 is electrically connected to earpiece 220 via earpiece cord 210. It should be understood, however, that although the embodiment of clothing 100 shown in FIG. 1 is a short-sleeved t-shirt, pocket 110, according to the instant invention, may be on any article of clothing, including but not limited to any type of short sleeved shirt, long sleeved shirts, any type of t-shirt, hooded shirts, sweaters, sweat shirts, jeans, shorts, pants, sweat pants, jackets, coats, uniforms, vests, outerwear, tank tops, robes, jerseys and athletic uniforms, and any other covering designed to be worn on a person's body. In addition, although the placement of pocket 110 is shown in FIG. 1 to be on the right side of the chest of clothing 100, it should be understood that pocket 110 can alternately be placed elsewhere on clothing 100, including the center of the chest, on a sleeve, higher on clothing 100, or lower on clothing (e.g., where a hand pocket would be located on a hooded sweat shirt). In addition, in one (1) embodiment, clothing 100 is made of a material capable of wicking moisture away from the wearer. Such a material allows moisture generated during exercise or other energetic activity to be drawn away from both the wearer and personal electronic listening device 200.

FIG. 2 is a front view of pocket 110 and surrounding area of clothing 100 shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen, pocket 110 is comprised of body 111, opening 114, flap 117, fastening member 118, two (2) pocket apertures 112, 113, and clothing aperture 115.

FIG. 2 further includes expandable panel 117 which allows for expansion one seam of pocket 110 to facilitate of insertion of personal electronic listening device 200. Other embodiments may include additional expandable panels 117 or may be designed so that expandable panel 117 is along a different seam or side of pocket 110.

As can be appreciated, body 111 is positioned on clothing 100 and receives and supports personal electronic listening device 200 (shown in dashed lines). Body 111 is secured to clothing 100 on the sides and bottom, but includes opening 114 to allow access to the inside of pocket 110. Body 111 of pocket 100 can be sized to receive a specific personal electronic listening device 200 or can be sized somewhat larger to fit almost any personal electronic listening device 200. In the embodiment shown, body 111 is four and one half inches (4½″) tall, two and one half inches (2½″) wide, and has a one half inch (½″) profile (as viewed along line 2), which allows body 111 to receive most personal electronic listening devices 200 while still keeping them snugly in place.

Also visible is flap 117, which encloses personal electronic listening device 200 within body 111 of pocket 110. However, it should be understood that alternate embodiments of pocket 110 need not include flap 117. In the embodiment shown, flap 117 is made of the same material as body 111 and clothing 100, but need not necessarily be made of the same material.

Also visible in FIG. 2 is fastening member 118. Fastening member 118 temporarily secures flap 117 to body 111 of pocket 110, further securing personal electronic listening device 200 within body 111 to prevent damaging personal electronic listening device 200. In the embodiment shown, fastening member 118 is a hook and latch, but can alternately be a snap, button, clip, magnet, tab, or any other means commonly known and used in the art to temporarily secure flap 117 to body 111, including combinations thereof.

Pocket 110 further includes two (2) pocket apertures 112, 113 at the bottom portion of body 111. Apertures 112 allow earpiece cord 210 to engage personal electronic listening device 200, which is positioned within pocket 110, and pass from within pocket 110 to outside of clothing 100. In the embodiment shown, pocket 110 includes two (2) ovularly-shaped apertures. It should be understood, however, that pocket 110 can include any number of pocket apertures 112, 113 and that pocket apertures 112, 113 can be of any shape. The ovular shape allows for some lateral movement of earpiece cord 210 without allowing personal electronic listening device 200 to pass through pocket apertures 112, 113.

Also visible in FIG. 2 is clothing aperture 115. Clothing aperture allows earpiece cord 210 to pass from outside of clothing 100 to underneath clothing 100, i.e., between clothing 100 and the wearer. Thus, only a small portion of earpiece cord 210 is outside of clothing 100, which minimizes the chance that earpiece cord 210 can become entangled and either injure the wearer or damage personal electronic listening device 200.

FIG. 3 is a front view of one alternate embodiment of clothing 100 for use with personal electronic listening device 100. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, clothing 100 is a t-shirt, but pocket 110 in which the pocket according to the instant invention is positioned on the arm clothing 100. As can be seen, pocket 110 includes only a single pocket aperture 112. However, the remaining elements of pocket 110 are the same as the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In addition, as provided supra, FIG. 3 shows that pocket 110 can be positioned at any location on clothing 100.

FIG. 4 is a front view of one alternate embodiment of clothing 100 for use with personal electronic listening device 200. In the embodiment shown, clothing 100 is a pair of shorts and pocket 110 is positioned on the shorts. Thus, the reader should understand that the invention is not limited to any particular type of clothing 100, but can be used with any clothing 100 that pocket 110 can be secured to or formed on. Nor is the invention to be limited to any particular location on clothing 100. As with the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-3, pocket 110 can be located elsewhere on the shorts. Specifically, on clothing 100 shown in FIG. 4, pocket 110 is on the hip, but can be positioned on any alternate location of clothing 100.

While the clothing for use with a personal electronic listening device has been shown and described with respect to several embodiments and uses in accordance with the present invention, it is to be understood that the same is not limited thereto, but is susceptible to numerous changes and modifications as known to a person of ordinary skill in the art, and it is intended that the present invention not be limited to the details shown and described herein, but rather cover all such changes and modifications obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art. 

1. An article of clothing for supporting a personal electronic listening device comprised of: at least one pocket disposed on said article of clothing, said at least one pocket having at least one pocket aperture to allow an earpiece cord of said personal electronic listening device to pass therethrough from inside said pocket to outside of said article of clothing; and at least one clothing aperture on said article of clothing, said at least one hole adapted to allow said earpiece cord to pass from outside of said article of clothing to inside said article of clothing;
 2. The article of claim 1, wherein said pocket includes at least one expandable panel.
 3. The article of clothing of claim 1, further includes a cover flap to temporarily close said opening.
 4. The article of clothing of claim 3, wherein said cover flap further includes a fastening member for securing said cover flap to said body of said pocket.
 5. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is selected from a group consisting of a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a t-shirt, a hooded shirt, a sweater, a sweat shirt, jeans, shorts, pants, sweat pants, a jacket, a coat, a uniform, a vest, outerwear, a tank top, a robe, a jersey, an athletic uniform, and combinations thereof.
 6. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said article of clothing is made of a wicking material.
 7. The article of clothing of claim 1, wherein said personal electronic listening device is selected from a group consisting of an AM/FM radio, an FM stereo radio, a tape player, a combined radio and tape player, a device for storing downloaded music, a cellular phone, and combinations thereof.
 8. An article of exercise clothing comprised of: at least one pocket disposed on said article of exercise clothing, said at least one pocket adapted to receive a personal electronic listening device, said at least one pocket comprised of a body, an opening to provide access to within said at least one Pocket, and at least one pocket aperture on said body to allow an earpiece cord of said personal electronic listening device to pass therethrough from inside said pocket to outside of said article of exercise clothing; and at least one clothing aperture on said article of exercise clothing, said at least one hole adapted to allow said earpiece cord to pass from outside of said article of exercise clothing to inside said article of exercise clothing; wherein said earpiece cord passes underneath said article of exercise clothing to said earpiece, said earpiece to be positioned adjacent to or near a user's ear.
 9. The article of claim 8, said pocket includes at least one expandable panel.
 10. The article of exercise clothing of claim 8, wherein said pocket further includes a cover flap to temporarily close said opening.
 11. The article of exercise clothing of claim 9, wherein said cover flap further includes a fastening member for securing said cover flap to said body of said pocket.
 12. The article of exercise clothing of claim 8, wherein said article of clothing is selected from a group consisting of a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a t-shirt, a hooded shirt, a sweater, a sweat shirt, jeans, shorts, pants, sweat pants, a jacket, a coat, a uniform, a vest, outerwear, a tank top, a robe, a jersey, an athletic uniform, and combinations thereof.
 13. The article of exercise clothing of claim 8, wherein said article of clothing is made of a wicking material.
 14. The article of exercise clothing of claim 8, wherein said personal electronic listening device is selected from a group consisting of an AMIFM radio, an FM stereo radio, a tape player, a combined radio and tape player, a device for storing downloaded music, a cellular phone, and combinations thereof.
 15. An article of clothing comprised of: at least one pocket disposed on said article of clothing, said at least one pocket adapted to receive a personal electronic listening device and said at least one pocket comprised of a body, an opening to provide access to within said at least one pocket, a cover flap to temporarily close said opening, and at least one pocket aperture on said body to allow an earpiece cord of said personal electronic listening device to pass therethrough from inside said pocket to outside of said article of clothing; and at least one clothing aperture on said article of clothing, said at least one hole adapted to allow said earpiece cord to pass from outside of said article of clothing to inside said article of clothing; wherein said earpiece cord passes underneath said article of clothing to said earpiece, said earpiece to be positioned adjacent to or near a user's ear.
 16. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein said cover flap further includes a fastening member for securing said cover flap to said body of said pocket.
 17. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein said article of clothing is selected from a group consisting of a short sleeved shirt, a long sleeved shirt, a t-shirt, a hooded shirt, a sweater, a sweat shirt, jeans, shorts, pants, sweat pants, a jacket, a coat, a uniform, a vest, outerwear, a tank top, a robe, a jersey, an athletic uniform, and combinations thereof.
 18. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein said article of clothing is made of a wicking material.
 19. The article of clothing of claim 15, wherein said personal electronic listening device is selected from a group consisting of an AM/FM radio, an FM stereo radio, a tape player, a combined radio and tape player, a device for storing downloaded music, a cellular phone, and combinations thereof. 